Miscellaneous Musings | Filling the mould: Why I will not conform to Plastic Beauty

I took a trip to Korea a few days ago to work parttime at a beauty expo that featured many beauty related companies and professionals. My mother's colleagues were also esteemed plastic surgeons and doctors. One of them, upon meeting him, pointed to my cheeks and told me he could help me lift them. Another put his hand on my nose, pulling it slightly, and he tells me he could make it sharper. A close friend of mine even told me that I should consider getting my eyes done over Skype. During a 2 week period, I had been suggested to get plastic surgery 3 times.

I was disturbed by how casual some people can be in telling someone they aren't good enough and they should get some work done. Especially coming from a close friend. I may not be a self-professing bombshell but at the same time, I never really saw myself as requiring such extreme measures. If you think about, you Are going under the knife, shoving plastic in your face and being left with bruises and pain... sounds pretty extreme to me. Yet a high percentage of the Korean population equate it as something as common and menial as a medical check-up.


Of course, the plastic surgery movement isn't just isolated to Korea, but it is certainly a society that glamorizes it. Take for example the movie ‘800 Pound Beauty (미녀는 괴로워)’.

I think I need to state my opinion a little more clearly on this topic. A pretty girl shouldn’t get a nose/boob job just because she doesn’t feel pretty. However, I can understand why someone who looks like ‘Ha-Na’ in the film would want to change their appearance. We only get one life, and if it makes you feel more comfortable in your own skin, its understandable. If we as a society can’t accept that some people aren’t comfortable and refuse to help them, then where can they get in life. Sure, it’s not ‘natural beauty’, but what is true natural beauty anymore? I think the saying ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ can be interpreted two ways: either that the person looking at the individual is the judge of beauty, or it is really that beauty lies in the individual themselves.

Honestly, I believe that beauty exudes from within; but unless these feelings aren't portrayed on the outside, there can be no confidence. This isn’t to say I believe surgery is the answer. Rather that a person must become comfortable in their own skin. If surgery is the only solution, fine go ahead, but it should only be approached as a last resort once make up, exercise and other forms of physical adjustment have been addressed.

The Student Life | On Graduating

I made it. You are now looking at a fresh graduate of South Island School's class of 2010.

but do I feel any different?

Though Highschool is over and done with, I have yet to face the exams that will determine my academic future. 2 weeks of continuous stress and lots and lots of caffeine. I have had a rather strained and bittersweet relationship with the merciless IB. My mocks results have been kind to me so far, but it still remains unclear whether or not I'll make it past this last hurdle. In good time all seven labourious years spent burning the midnight oil and trying to keep attentive in class will be handed back to me, compact, as a bunch of numbers and I must say, the number 7 has never looked more attractive.

These past few weeks have been an epic battle of massive proportions between my good friend procrastination and responsibility. Procrastination, I have come to realize, goes hand in hand with a Macbook. Unfortunately I do not possess the willpower of those who have mercilessly severed their wireless connections, so the few first weeks consisted of one too many youtube breaks and facebook chats.. which, I guess, is only natural in this digital age? There I go again with the excuses.

Yes Revision has been nothing short of a challenge. But in these last few weeks, perhaps the urgency of the 4th drawing closer by the hour was all it took to finally get my gaze directed at a textbook. I work best under pressure and I am proud to say that I have a little over 100 cue cards and post-it covered wall to show for it.
Oh god, what have I become..

From here on, there is nothing but uncertainty. Uncertainty of what I'm capable of, uncertainty of where I'll be and the uncertainty of what comes after I find those answers. Still, in the midst of the unknown, there is the thrill of discovering what lies in store for me. I just got to give it my all, and really that's all I can do.

Bring it on IB.